“Your kid has a higher chance of being struck by lightning than being snatched by a stranger,” Lang said.

Lang is a parenting expert with a master’s degree in applied behavioral science with a focus on adult education.

In spite of the statistics, she says, parents have to be alert.

“Keep an eye on their kids, and the younger your kid is, the bigger hawk eye you need to have on your children,” Lang said.

Lang says communication is the key.

Make sure your child knows the danger and what to do if something happens, but she says in big crowds, where just about everyone is wearing similar clothing, parents have to be even more aware and trust their instincts.

“If they look weird, there’s something off about them, just be really aware of that person. Also, for parents, if they notice somebody who is really interested in their child, like chatting with them, another sign of potential trouble would be a person who photographing your child without your permission, that’s a total no, no,” Lang said.

Lang also said parents should also pay close attention to their child’s intuition.

She says even at a young age they have the ability to feel when someone may pose a danger.